EMA INFORMATION – SESSION 2016-2017

This information is also being made available to age-eligible students in school

An EMA is a payment of £30 per week, paid directly into a student’s bank account, if they stay on in school, college or in home-education after their official school leaving date.

Studentsborn between 1 March 1997 and 28 February 2001may be eligible for an EMA.

Students born between 1 March 1997 and 30 September 2000may be eligible for an EMA from the beginning of the school term - APPLY NOW. If the application is received by 30 September it can be backdated to the beginning of term, otherwise the award can only be made from the week it is received in the office.

Students born between 1 October 2000 and 28 February 2001may be eligible for an EMA from January 2017.

If they were in receipt of an EMA during school session 2015/2016 and are planning on staying on at school for session 2016/2017, a letter will be sent reminding them to re-apply.

EMAs are normally assessed on gross taxable household income for the period April 2015 – March 2016and the income thresholds for the academic year 2016/17 EMA programme are as follows:

£0 - £24,421 (for families with a single dependant child)

£0 - £26,884 (for families with more than one dependant child*)

*Dependant children are all those up to the age of 16 and those over 16 and up to 25 in full-time further or higher education

Students in the care of the local authority or living independently in receipt of Income Support or Contribution-Based Employment Support and Allowance are eligible for a £30 EMA award without having to provide evidence of household income.

  • To be paid an EMA students must have a bank account in their own name and attend an Aberdeen City area school.
  • Students must be ordinarily resident in the UK. Generally this relates to the qualifying date and the 3 years immediately before.
  • They must complete a Learning Agreement with the school.

An EMA is paid in addition to other support and benefits provided by the Government. This will not affect any other benefits you might receive. It will not affect any money a student may earn from a part-time job either.

Application forms are available from the school, Marischal College, Broad Street, Customer Access Points in Mastrick, Kincorth and Woodside or can be downloaded from the Council website

Students planning to go to a Further Education College should contact the college for details of their application process.

If you require further advice and information on how the EMA scheme will affect you personally, contact Moyra Forbes, EMA Administrator, on (01224) 523898.